November Beauty Empties

This months empties saw me say goodbye to some favourites so with a heavy heart (melodrama at it's best) let's start with last months favourite products my Toni & Guy Shampoo and Conditioner* duo. I always feel like my hair gets used to certain products and it did seem the case with this duo. My love of them in the beginning and frequent use of them, unlike others when I swap brands, made it seem towards the end it wasn't doing it's job. Don't let that put you off though as they were great at first.

When it was time to repurchase the Garnier Micellar Water I decided to give the version for Sensitive Skin a try. I don't have sensitive skin per say but thought I'd see if there was a different to the product. For me I saw no difference so I will probably return to the original formula. It's pink. It looks prettier what can I say.

Another Wet Brush bites the dust and am I glad that Boots is stocking them now. I can see myself amassing numerous advantage card points and stocking up on 3 for 2's when the time comes I do go through these so quickly. I have added one to my Christmas List and was using another brand of brush in the interim but I couldn't live without it so I repurchased. This is definitely my must have of 2015.

Another product that I can gain advantage card points on and I was sorry to see go was Liz Earle Superskin Face Serum*. As a beauty blogger I'm lucky enough to receive numerous products and as such have an extensive stock of products to pick and choose from. For this reason when I come to the end of the product, certainly in cases where I have an instant replacement I'll rarely be seen scrapping the bottom of a jar. In the case of this serum when the pump dispenser was struggling I unscrewed the pump and would use the tube to  scrap out what was left so I could use every inch. It may have a £48 price tag but it's totally worth it. As a day time serum I loved using this. Somewhere between a cream and gel texture it was light enough to use in the day and left my skin looking near perfect. This was a real hit for me and the only reason I will not be repurchasing immediately is that large stash of skincare I mentioned.

The Balance Me Pure Skin Facial Wash was a disappointing product for me, for personal reasons only. A magazine freebie and one added to my rotation as I try to use the products I have before buying others. I first starting using this during one of my holidays and because of the reasons I will get to I decided to use it back home so I could move it on quickly. The first problem was the scent. It was too floral smelling for my tastes and in the morning I definitely need something to enjoy to avoid getting the day off to a bad start. The next was it's texture. Most of my cleansers and balms have a lighter more creamy, gel or balm type. This felt thick and similar to a shower gel if I were to compare it too anything. Other than those personal niggles it did the job and didn't cause any adverse effects, only maybe to my mood. 

Without harping on about this excessive stash of mine, mascaras are another product I seem to have too many off. I'm sure they're supposed to dry out quickly and I certainly remember back in my use and replace YSL Mascara days I was repurchasing constantly but even this diddy Benefit Roller Lash didn't seem to disappear quickly. I have taken to using one mascara (give or take different event requirements) on a daily basis in an effort to use what I have up and mascara are one of those products I can instantly see whether I do or don't like. Benefit Roller Lash I did like and would be lining up to repurchase now if I could. It gives the perfect day to night lash effect, not thick nor heavy but enough to fan and lengthen the lashes. 

And we end with Hurraw! Lip Balm* a minty balm that has sat alongside me as I watched TV at home. Organic, vegan and moisturising and leaving soft lips with a cooling sensation after application. 

What have your beauty empties been this month?

*this post contains press samples 

October Favourites

Without stating the obvious 'I'm late' with Octobers' favourites posts in unofficial blogging laws but I'm happy with 'better late than never' and you get a post on a Saturday seen as I've neglected things lately. Enough rambling, let's dive in before I hit publish on Novembers favourites.

I'd read about the Sophia Webster collaboration with Toni & Guy in a magazine and whilst I can't justify the cost of these fabulous flamingo shoes from Ms Webster, I can justify the cost of a bottle of shampoo. I actually happened across these products when I went to order my new sofa. I took a wrong turn at the retail park and found myself in front of a branch of Boots I didn't know existed. Clearly it was meant to be so I took advantage and treated myself. There was a 3 for 2 offer on at the time so I also picked up the 3D volumiser which alas wasn't a favourite and just made my hair a weird combination of crispy and greasy so that was passed over but the shampoo and conditioner were a hit. With Sophia Websters limited edition packagine and designed for fine hair this isn't a shampoo and conditioner that gives a lot of volume but makes hair look fresh and clean without weighing it down. It's my every day shampoo if you like.

Another product I picked up on my serendipitous Boots trip was the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in East End Snob. This lip liner has done the rounds on blogs and YouTube and again was in the back of my mind to purchase. I like Dervish from Mac as my 'goes with anything' liner but it's always great to have an alternative. I can't speak to it's claims as a dupe for Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Cheat Liner but I can say I bloody love the Rimmel one. It's become a staple and every day go to as I embrace nuder lip shades. The shade is lovely whether worn alone all over the lips or just to line. I can't say I'm giving Kylie Jenner a run for her money but I do find lipstick is looking a little more polished these days.

Following on from last months pinky nude lip favourite, another oldie but goodie has made an appearance. Hot Gossip from Mac is the slightly shimmery sister to Syrups cloudiness. Sometimes I prefer a nude lip to have a gloss to it but when you don't actually like wearing gloss a shimmer and slight frostiness can have a more wearable effect. Step in Hot Gossip. I've actually broke the bullet of this so I'm having to use a careful hand as I'm not prepared to cast it aside just yet and I'm loving wearing it with a darker eye at the moment.

Make Up Revolution's Iconic Dreams Palette* is fast becoming a staple in my make up routine and one I reach for when I don't want to think too much about my eye make up. I featured it in my Going for Gold post last month and was amazed at the quality and pigmentation of such a cheap product. I know if I use these eye shadows I'll create a great look and one that will last from day to night. I'm very tempted with the Make Up Revolution 144 eyeshadow palette currently only £8 until midnight on Tuesday. I'm picked one up today for a young lady I know will like it for Christmas and whose mum wants her to have well performing affordable products.

As mentioned above the Toni & Guy shampoo didn't provide much volume so I've been reaching for Batiste Oomph My Locks XXL Volume Spray* on an almost daily basis to add a little more. We all know and love Batiste for their dry shampoo range, especially me and their new line of styling products is working a treat too. Dubbed 'backcomb in a bottle' just spray in your roots and give a rub and away you go. I'm going to have to pick up the texturising spray next time I hit Boots.

Finally is the Laura Mercier Hydrating Foundation Primer which was a surprise favourite. Early last year I spoke of my first dabble with Laura Mercier primers and how it didn't work for me so when a friend passed this version over to try I had limited expectations. If ever there was proof that it's often a case of just trying the right product, even from the same brand this is it. Where the original was too sticky for me, this is a lovely cream and feels like applying a lighter moisturiser to the skin. With now of the stickiness and adding a hit of hydration without going overboard this is perfect. I've been using this a lot with a foundation I've been testing lately (more of that later in the week) and it was the perfect first step to accompany some of the more flatter foundations we wear. So much so is my love for this product that I apply simply this after my skincare regime for days when I'm sitting around at home or just popping to the local supermarket.

Have you tried any of my favourite products?

*this post contains press samples